Flights are temporarily suspended at Dubai airport on Monday, authorities in the Emirates announced, due to a fire at a fuel tank linked to a drone attack.
The fire was caused by a drone PHOTO Video capture / X
The Civil Aviation Authority of Dubai announced the temporary suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff, the Dubai Press Office indicated on X, quoted by Agerpres.
According to the same source, a “drone incident” earlier caused a fire at a fuel tank at the airport, with no injuries reported. The fire was kept under control.
Dubai Airport is the world's busiest for international traffic and the main hub for Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East.
Its activity has been severely disrupted since the start of the US-Israeli operation against Iran on February 28 and the retaliatory attacks launched by the Islamic Republic against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its other Gulf neighbors.
Last week, authorities in Dubai reported four people injured when a drone crashed near the airport.
Since the beginning of the war, Iran has launched more than 1,800 missiles and drones at the UAE, according to the Ministry of Defense of the Emirates, disrupting the life of this important financial center which is also one of the vital hubs of world air traffic.
Although the country's civil defense forces have reportedly intercepted most of the projectiles, the Emirati Ministry of Defense has reported six deaths since the start of the war, including four civilians and two soldiers who died in a helicopter crash attributed to a technical malfunction.
Iran has targeted US military bases and economic interests in its Gulf neighbors, as well as civilian infrastructure such as airports, ports and oil facilities.
In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Defense announced on Monday morning the interception of five drones in the east of the country.
Kuwait also reported early Monday morning that two drones had been destroyed in the past 24 hours.
On Sunday, an Italian-American base in Kuwait was also targeted by a drone strike, according to the Italian military.
The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, justified the attacks by “the many proofs” which, in his opinion, shows that US bases in the Gulf states are being used to target Iran.
In a sign of growing skepticism about a quick resolution to the conflict, the two Formula 1 Grand Prix races scheduled in Bahrain (April 10-12) and Saudi Arabia (April 17-19) have been cancelled.
